A man arrested from Kerala for allegedly radicalising 12 youths to join the terrorist organisation Islamic State (ISIS) has told interrogators that he only helped Ashfaque Kadar Khan (25), who left In
A man arrested from Kerala for allegedly radicalising 12 youths to join the terrorist organisation Islamic State (ISIS) has told interrogators that he only helped Ashfaque Kadar Khan (25), who left India and joined the ISIS, to change his sect from Sunni to Salafi a year back and they remained in-touch for only six months. He said he does not know about his activities since then.
According to Mumbai crime branch officials who have arrested Mohammad Hanif from Kerala, it has been revealed during his interrogation that he was in contact with Ashfaque.
An official said, “Hanif, who is a priest in the village of Peringathoor in Kannur, Kerala, met Ashfaque last year. Abdul Rashid Abdulla, who is also accused in the case, was a mediator during the first meeting between Hanif and Ashfaque. A few months after their meeting, Ashfaque requested Hanif to change his sect from Sunni to Salafi. So Hanif converted Ashfaque into the Salafi sect. After this they were in touch for six months before Ashfaque left to join the ISIS. They used to meet near Peace Public School in the village. Abdulla used to bring some new persons from the mosque to meet Hanif to change his sect.”
The Mumbai police is investigating several angles in the case, like the financial help that Ashfaque received to travel out of India to join the ISIS. A source said, “The Mumbai police team with the help of the Kerala police is interrogating people (in Kerala) to get details about Hanif and Abdulla Rashid. Also, it is important for the team to get details about the meetings of the trio near Peace Public School. The team visited the place where Ashfaque used to live but nothing suspicious has been found there.”
Two days ago, NIA (National Investigation Agency) officials secured details about the case from the Mumbai police. A senior police official said, “Our team is working on several links and angles in the case. We will soon get custody of the other two accused who were sent to judicial custody (in Kerala) on August 16.”
Investigation in this case started after Ashfaque’s father filed a complaint in the Nagpada police station against four accused who were then charged with indoctrinating Muslim youth from Peringathoor in Kannur district of Kerala to join the ISIS.
